Storage Controller Parallel Pipelines Bandwidth
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Solution Overview
Problem
Storage controllers face limitations in bandwidth due to the width and clock speed of data processing pipelines, particularly in high-speed storage devices, which can be costly and power-intensive to widen or speed up.
Innovation Solution
Implementing multiple parallel data processing pipelines that process data units concurrently, with a packetizing module inserting sequence information into data units before processing, allowing for simultaneous operations and efficient writing to storage media without increasing clock speeds.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the pipeline width or clock speed is increased to improve bandwidth, then data processing capability is improved, but cost and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the data processing system into multiple independent pipelines (first pipeline, second pipeline, etc.), each capable of processing data units in parallel. Instead of one wide high-speed pipeline, multiple narrower pipelines operate simultaneously, achieving high bandwidth while keeping individual pipeline complexity and power consumption manageable.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a single-dimensional approach (one wide pipeline) to a multi-dimensional approach (multiple parallel pipelines operating concurrently). This dimensional expansion allows the system to achieve high throughput by utilizing parallelism across multiple processing paths rather than increasing the capacity of a single path.
2Productivity
If the pipeline width or clock speed is increased to improve bandwidth, then data processing capability is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the processing function across multiple standard-width pipelines rather than requiring one custom wide pipeline. This segmentation allows use of standardized, lower-cost building blocks that can be manufactured more economically while achieving equivalent or superior throughput through parallel operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates multiple copies of a standard pipeline design rather than manufacturing a single complex wide pipeline. This copying approach enables reuse of proven, lower-cost pipeline templates, reducing development and manufacturing costs while achieving high bandwidth through parallel instantiation of these copied units.
3Productivity
If multiple parallel pipelines are used to improve bandwidth, then data processing efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs each pipeline to be a universal, multi-functional unit that can handle various data processing tasks. This universality reduces overall system complexity because the same pipeline design serves multiple purposes and can be instantiated repeatedly without requiring unique complex configurations for each pipeline.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent manages complexity by standardizing pipeline parameters (width, clock speed, processing stages) across all pipelines while allowing the number of pipelines to be adjusted. This parameter standardization simplifies design, control, and synchronization compared to having highly variable pipeline configurations, making the parallel system more manageable despite the increased number of units.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques are disclosed relating to processing data in a storage controller. In one embodiment, a method includes receiving data at a storage controller of a storage device. The method further includes processing data units of the data in parallel via a plurality of write pipelines in the storage controller. The method further includes writing the data units to a storage medium of the storage device. In some embodiments, the method may include inserting header information into the data for a plurality of data units before processing, and the header information may include sequence information. In some embodiments, writing the data units may include writing according to a sequence determined prior to processing the data units.